Internet Addiction Changes the Brain

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Internet Addiction Changes the Brain

Just a word of warning.

If you are a gamer or tied to the video gaming industry, you won’t like this report given to the American Psychiatric Association’s 2014 Annual Meeting. It has to do with a review of 13 published articles that look at Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) especially those addicted to Internet gaming) and brain abnormalities.

Now, keep in mind that IAD is not a DSM V disorder, but one that is under study at present time. The interest in IAD is because we have a number of studies that show IAD associated with depression, suicide, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, ADHD and more.

American youth are more Internet addicted (26.3%) than drugs and alcohol. And teens who are addicted are more at risk for depression and suicide. Here are four findings from the review.

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To read more from Dr. Linda Mintle click here to read her Beliefnet blog Doing Life Together.